The articles in the magazine, whether it be Tea Garden Labour problems or on Tourism are like reports. The stories should create interest in the reader’s mind and must not be a mere presentation of facts and figures. However, your cartoons are outstanding. ‘The Gandhi of inside is more important’ (The DayAfter, December 16, 2002) and placing an AK-47 in place of Room No. 47 by a political worker compels the reader to think. If possible, please give a full page of such cartoons.

Manish Sharma
New Delhi

Dual Membership

It refers to Lok Sabha member Sushil Kumar Shinde taking over as Chief Minister of Maharashtra without being a member of Maharashtra Legislature. To prevent any repetition like the then Orissa Chief Minister Girdhar Gomango’s crucial vote in Lok Sabha to defeat the Vajpayee Government, a Member of Parliament must automatically lose membership immediately on taking ministerial oath in a State. Vice versa, a member of the State Legislature may lose membership as soon as taking oath in the Union Ministry.

No person should be allowed to file nominations from more than one seat or for both the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha. Rather, a sitting MP or MLA must first resign from his/ her seat before filing a nomination for the other.

Simple poll reforms must not be further delayed in anticipation of hypothetical political consensus to be achieved for a complete package of poll reforms.

MADHU AGRAWAL
Delhi

Investment Bonds

This refers to reports about the interest rate of seven per cent RBI tax-free bonds being reduced. Since the Union Government and the RBI introduced the scheme only on public demand without any desire to accumulate more investments under the scheme, it is senseless to pay commission on the sale of such bonds to private brokers. Funds saved thus can be utilised better to retain seven per cent interest to investors. However, for public convenience, these bonds should be available in every branch of nationalised banks and all post offices apart from other desiring private banks which may opt to sell the bonds at nominal service commission. To further save on payment of interest, the Union Government and the RBI can simplify the system by abolishing limited investment eight per cent RBI tax-free bonds thus retaining only seven per cent tax-free bonds. However flexibility of taking loan, etc. should be available to seven per cent RBI tax free bonds also.

SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL
Delhi

A Bouquet

It is a good idea that you have begun interviews with former prime min isters. They do have important things to say on current affairs which could help the present rulers to prevent commiting the same mistakes that they did during their tenure.

I suggest that you conduct interviews with people in different walks of life.